Hobbiton and Te Puia in a Day: 2.5 Hours in the Shire, a Drink at the Green Dragon

Two of the things people fly to New Zealand for, in one day out of Auckland Central. Hobbiton first, on a fully guided tour of two and a half hours. The walk goes through farmland and into the hobbit holes, past the spots used in the films, and finishes at the Green Dragon Inn, where a locally brewed cider or beer comes with the ticket. There is a non-alcoholic option for anyone who wants it. Then Rotorua and Te Puia, in the Whakarewarewa Geothermal Valley. Pōhutu is the largest active geyser in the Southern Hemisphere and the guided route puts you in front of it. The mud pools around it still bubble, and some are still used for cooking. The guides are Māori and the material they carry has been handed down rather than learned from a script. The kiwi house holds two of the birds, which is two more than most visitors to New Zealand ever see. The visit ends at the wood and stone carving schools, where students are working on pieces rather than showing finished ones. Cancel at least 24 hours before departure for a full refund.